Coast Guard searching for Army sergeant in cruise ship plunge

U.S. Coast Guard officials are searching for an Army sergeant who was reported overboard from a Carnival cruise ship on Tuesday.

Sgt. Ronald Kemp, 31, who was assigned to Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in Fort Stewart, Ga., was last seen on the cruise ship Carnival Fascination by a security guard before he jumped into the water about 25 miles off New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

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Coast Guard officials are investigating the incident. At least four Coast Guard vessels are currently searching for Kemp, including the 210-foot Coast Guard Cutter Resolute ported in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Crew members reported the incident at 2:09 a.m. Tuesday, Coast Guard officials said in a news release.

The security guard reported that he saw Kemp leap from the 10th deck into the water, a fall of approximately 87 feet.